The Timberwolves have defeated the Denver Nuggets in six games. In doing so, this is the Denver Nuggets’ earliest playoff exit since the 2017-18 season, when they missed the playoffs entirely.
Advertisement
Minnesota was the aggressor for almost the entire game. Denver had no answer for Jaden McDaniels and Terrence Shannon Jr who scored 32 and 24 points respectively. While none of them shot well from three, 2 of 11, their energy and constant attack to the basket became a problem.
Minnesota led all team statistics except field goal and free throw percentage. Minnesota had almost twice as many turnovers as Denver. The Nuggets’ final lead in this game came six minutes into the second quarter. Without Aaron Gordon in the lineup, Denver had trouble controlling the paint. Minnesota built its biggest lead with just one minute left in the game.
Minnesota now has to hope it can recover before facing San Antonio. They will need Anthony Edwards back in the lineup if they want to make a series against the Spurs.
NBA PLAYOFFS Headquarters: Live results | Full schedule | Updated support
Advertisement
Nuggets vs. Nuggets Live Updates T-Wolves, highlights from Game 6 of the NBA playoffs
Team statistics
| DEN |
MINIMUM |
|
|---|---|---|
|
F.G. |
34-75 |
43-94 |
|
Field Goal % |
45 |
46 |
|
3 points |
10-27 |
7-29 |
|
% of three points |
37 |
24 |
|
FOOT |
20-25 |
17-24 |
|
Free throw % |
80 |
71 |
|
Rebounds |
33 |
50 |
|
Offensive rebounds |
6 |
19 |
|
Defensive rebounds |
27 |
31 |
|
Assists |
24 |
26 |
|
steal |
4 |
8 |
|
Blocks |
8 |
3 |
|
Total turnover |
13 |
8 |
|
Points awarded for turnovers |
16 |
10 |
|
Counterattack Points |
7 |
13 |
|
Points in paint |
40 |
64 |
|
Fouls |
26 |
21 |
|
Technical faults |
1 |
2 |
|
Flagrant fouls |
0 |
0 |
|
Biggest advantage |
5 |
12 |
|
Percent led |
11 |
80 |
The Minnesota Timberwolves defeat the Denver Nuggets to advance. The Timberwolves will face the San Antonio Spurs in the next round.
4th quarter-0:25: Jamal Murray takes a three-point shot from 23 feet but misses long. Rudy Gobert rebound. Julius Randle dribbled the clock. Minnesota wins.
4th quarter-0:37: Minnesota went deep, Denver tried to foul, but Minnesota called a timeout before they could.
4th quarter-0:55: Julius Randle missed the second of two free throws. Denver didn’t get the rebound. Jokic then fouled Gobert. Gobert makes both free throws. Minnesota has the biggest lead of the game (10) with 43 seconds left.
Advertisement
4th quarter-1:07: Jaden McDaniels hits a 19-foot jumper.
4th quarter-1:43: Terrence Shannon Jr drives down the lane and was fouled, counts the basket. Shannon scored the free throw.
4th quarter-2:03: Rudy Gobert’s foul on Jamal Murray. Murray made both free throws.
4th quarter-4:50: Rudy Gobert followed the cutter on a pick and roll and appeared to hit Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic in the head. Foul called by Gobert. Review of officials. Officials confirmed the call. The replay showed Gobert shoving him from behind and then Jokic making contact with Gobert before hitting Murray. Simple fumble foul on Gobert.
Advertisement
4th quarter-5:05: Cameron Jordan hit a three-point shot from 23 feet. He is 5 of 9 from three.
4th quarter-5:53: Terrence Shannon Jr makes a three-point shot. Shannon currently has 21 points and 5 rebounds in his first career playoff start.
4th quarter-7:46: Naz Reid launches a 3-pointer from 22 feet, assisted by Rudy Gobert.
4th quarter-8:45: Nikola Jokic makes a 2-foot layup.
4th quarter-9:47: Jaylen Clark was initially called for a regular personal foul when he and Nikola Jokic tangled. Clark shoved Jokic. Jokic gestured to the official. When the referee did nothing at that point, Jokic pushed back. Both men fell to the ground. There was an official review, after which Clark, Naz Ried and Jokic were technically evaluated. The home crowd wanted Jokic to be sent off. The two MIN technicals and one DEN technical resulted in a free throw for Denver, the crowd booed. The booth brought Steve Javie.
Advertisement
Javier: Reid is very lucky. I’m sure there was a discussion about the expulsion being an escalator of the situation. In the replay you can see Reid push Jokic from behind.
4th quarter-10:26: Cameron Jordan makes a three-point shot from 25 feet to cut the Timberwolves’ lead to 4.
4th Quarter-11:30: Spencer Jones makes a three-point shot from 22 feet, assisted by Tim Hardaway Jr.
Team statistics
|
DEN |
MINIMUM |
|
|---|---|---|
|
F.G. |
28-60 |
33-74 |
|
Field Goal % |
47 |
45 |
|
3 points |
7-18 |
5-24 |
|
% of three points |
39 |
21 |
|
FOOT |
11-14 |
11-16 |
|
Free throw % |
79 |
69 |
|
Rebounds |
27 |
38 |
|
Offensive rebounds |
5 |
13 |
|
Defensive rebounds |
22 |
25 |
|
Assists |
20 |
21 |
|
steal |
3 |
7 |
|
Blocks |
8 |
2 |
|
Total turnover |
12 |
6 |
|
Points awarded for turnovers |
13 |
7 |
|
Counterattack Points |
7 |
12 |
|
Points in paint |
36 |
52 |
|
Fouls |
18 |
14 |
|
Technical faults |
0 |
0 |
|
Flagrant fouls |
0 |
0 |
|
Biggest advantage |
5 |
9 |
|
Percent led |
15 |
74 |
Minnesota leads Denver 82-74 at the end of the third quarter.
3rd quarter-2:13: Jaden McDaniels converts a 10-foot jump shot.
3rd quarter-3:12: Nikola Jokic shoots from the right elbow as Rudy Gobert tries to break through the screen, Jokic scores at the rim.
Advertisement
3rd quarter-4:00: Jaden McDaniels drives down the middle of the paint and makes a short-range shot in traffic.
3rd quarter-3:58: Terrence Shannon Jr attacks again with a layup.
3rd quarter-5:28: Naz Reid floats 9 feet.
3rd quarter-7:11: Cameron Johnson hits a 22-foot 3-pointer from the corner, assisted by Jokic.
3rd quarter-8:07: Terrence Shannon Jr scores 4 points on two consecutive possessions.
3rd quarter-8:50: Mike Conley makes a three-point shot from 25 feet.
3rd quarter-9:44: Rudy Gobert with a close-range dunk.
3rd quarter-10:41: Nikola Jokic makes an 11-foot jump shot.
Halftime: Timberwolves 57, Nuggets 50
Team statistics
|
Half-time |
nuggets |
Wolves T |
|---|---|---|
|
F.G. |
19-41 |
22-49 |
|
Field Goal % |
46 |
45 |
|
3 points |
6-14 |
4-15 |
|
% of three points |
43 |
27 |
|
FOOT |
6-8 |
9-11 |
|
Free throw % |
75 |
82 |
|
Rebounds |
18 |
25 |
|
Offensive rebounds |
3 |
8 |
|
Defensive rebounds |
15 |
17 |
|
Assists |
14 |
13 |
|
steal |
3 |
6 |
|
Blocks |
7 |
2 |
|
Total turnover |
9 |
5 |
|
Points out of losses |
9 |
7 |
|
Counterattack Points |
5 |
10 |
|
Points in paint |
20 |
32 |
|
Fouls |
11 |
10 |
|
Technical faults |
0 |
0 |
|
Flagrant fouls |
0 |
0 |
|
Biggest advantage |
5 |
9 |
2nd quarter- 1:05: Cam Johnson splits free throws 55-50 T-Wolves up
Advertisement
2nd quarter- 1:19: A pair of Jaden McDaniels free throws push Minnesota’s lead to 55-49
2nd quarter- 1:34: Cam Johnson’s triple reduces the T-wolves’ lead to 53-49
2nd quarter- 2:39: Minnesota takes a 53-44 lead with a triple by Julius Randle
2nd quarter- 3:57: Television waiting time. 8-0 Minnesota with the Wolves up 48-42
2nd quarter- 5:08: two missed three-pointers by Murray and Jokic, but the T-Wolves can’t go ahead with a turnover 44-42
2nd quarter- 6:10: Jokic with a return triple. Denver regains the lead 42-40
2nd quarter- 6:50: Jamal Murray fell to the ground without a decision. The referees will let them play tonight. 40-39 Minnesota leads.
Advertisement
2nd quarter- 8:17: Both teams are flying and playing sloppily. The first to calm down will have a good advantage.
2nd quarter- 9:13: The T-Wolves regain the lead 38-37
2nd Quarter- 10:00: The Nuggets take a 37-36 lead with back-and-forth basketball.
2nd quarter- 10:57: The teams exchange buckets with a tie at 34
End of 1st quarter: Nuggets 30, Timber Wolves 29
Team statistics
|
1st quarter |
nuggets |
Wolves T |
|---|---|---|
|
F.G. |
11-18 |
11-23 |
|
Field Goal % |
61 |
48 |
|
3 points |
3-8 |
2-6 |
|
% of three points |
38 |
33 |
|
FOOT |
5-6 |
5-7 |
|
Free throw % |
83 |
71 |
|
Rebounds |
8 |
10 |
|
Offensive rebounds |
0 |
3 |
|
Defensive rebounds |
8 |
7 |
|
Assists |
9 |
7 |
|
steal |
2 |
4 |
|
Blocks |
3 |
0 |
|
Total turnover |
5 |
3 |
|
Points out of losses |
7 |
7 |
|
Counterattack Points |
5 |
8 |
|
Points in paint |
14 |
16 |
|
Fouls |
5 |
5 |
|
Technical faults |
0 |
0 |
|
Flagrant fouls |
0 |
0 |
|
Biggest advantage |
5 |
6 |
|
Percent led |
29 |
62 |
1st quarter: 17.4 seconds: Cam Johnson splits a pair of free throws to put the Nuggets ahead 30-29
1st quarter: 47.4 seconds: Hardaway steal with Jokic assist for Cam Johnson’s layup with a 29, all tied
1st quarter- 1:07: Tim Hardaway Jr.’s layup brings Denver within 27-26
Advertisement
1st quarter- 1:54: “Teams trading buckets with Minnesota on top”. Tim Hardaway Jr. heads to the free throw line to take three shots. Hit the three 27-24 for T-Wolves.
1st quarter- 3:00: Bones Hyland splits a pair of free throws for a 22-16 T-Wolves lead
1st quarter- 3:22: Jaden McDaniels knocks down a jumper to take a 21-16 lead
1st quarter- 3:59: Minnesota jumps out to a 19-13 lead. Jokic clearly fouled the other side with a foul. The referees are letting the players get physical.
1st quarter- 5:03: Both teams are trading baskets with Minnesota holding a 15-13 lead.
1st quarter- 7:19: TV standby time. The Nuggets watch the T-Wolves put together a 7-0 run for a 13-7 lead.
Advertisement
1st quarter- 8:25: T-Wolves and Nuggets trade buckets with Denver up 7-6
1st quarter- 10:43: Jokic’s hook gives the Nuggets an initial 4-0 lead
Start of Nuggets-Timberwolves game now delayed due to end of Knicks-Hawks game on ESPN
How to watch Denver Nuggets (2-3) vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (3-2) Game 5 of the NBA playoffs
Thursday April 30
Notice: 9:30 pm ET
Television: ESPN
Minnesota leads the series 3-2
Game 6 of Nuggets vs Timberwolves will be broadcast on ABC on ESPN and live on the ESPN app.
Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Live stream NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, college sports, plus SportsCenter, First Take and all your favorite ESPN shows, anytime, anywhere, only on the ESPN app.
Advertisement